Phenol Dilution With Saline Solution Versus Alcohol in Partial Matricectomy for Onychocryptosis

Onychocryptosis significantly impacts quality of life. Chemical partial matricectomy with phenol is a common surgical treatment. The use of alcohol as a solvent during this procedure has been controversial. In vitro studies suggest that physiologic saline solution (PSS) may be a more effective solvent for phenol.

To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of PSS as a phenol solvent, in terms of postoperative outcomes, compared to alcohol.

A retrospective unicentric cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent partial chemical matricectomy with phenol for onychocryptosis. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected and compared between the alcohol and PSS groups. Clinical staging followed Martinez Nova and colleagues' classification. Patients were followed up over a 12-month period to assess postoperative complications.

The study population demonstrated typical characteristics of onychocryptosis, with a median age of 20 years. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of pain, infections, or bleeding postoperatively. There were also no differences in terms of recurrence, days of analgesic use, or need for antibiotic therapy ( p > .05).

The results suggest that PSS is as effective and safe as alcohol as a solvent for phenol in chemical partial matricectomy.